Tire-armor.



J. R. SMITH. TIRE ARMOR. APPLICATION FILED 13110.?, 1911.

Patented Sept. y3, 1912.

@M WV@ JOHN ROBERT SMITH, 0F FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA.

TIRE-ARMOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patenten sept. s, 1912.

application mea December *7, 1911. serial No. 664,354.

To auy w/wm t may concern a citizen of the United States, residing atFlagstaff, in the county of Coconino and State of Arizona', haveinvented A certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Armors; and ldo'declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description-of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in arniors for pneumatic tires.

One object of the invention is to provide a tire armor formed. inseparable sections whereby the sameA may be readily engaged with andremoved from the tire and which is adapted to iirmly grip the outerportion ot the tire when the latteris inflated and is thus held againstslipping thereon and which will eiiectually protect the tire againstpucture or other injury.

Another object is to provide a tire armor having arranged thereon one ormore rows of anti-slipping devices whereby the wheel is prevented fromslipping or skidding.

W'ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construct-ion and the combination and arrangement otparts as will be more vfully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings ;4 Figure A1 is a side view of a wheelshowing the application of the invention to the tire thereof; Fig. 2 isa side view of the armor showing the sections thereof separated. Fig. 3is an enlarged cross sectional view through the rim and tire of thewheel and through the armor taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 isan enlarged longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the meetingends of the sections of the rim; Fig. 5 is a cross sec! tional view onthe line 5`5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6 6 of Fig.4.

My improved tire armor is constructed of sheet metal or other suitablematerial and is formed in two semi-circular sections or strips l and 2,said strips being curved transversely to closely fit the curvature ofthe tread or outer surface of the tire with which the same are engagedand said strips are of suiticient width to extend across the tread oithe tire as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The ends of thesections 1 and 2 of the armor are preferably bent inwardly or odset to aslight extentand for a suitable distance back as shown' at 3 in Be itknown that I, JOHN ROBERT SMITH,

Fig. 4 of the drawings, said ends* when thus constructed forming arecess orl depression c at-diametrically opposite points in the armor orwhere the ends of the sections thereof come together. With the recessedends 3 of the armor sections are engaged splicing or connecting plates 4which are curved transversely to itthe curvature of the ends of thearmor and said plates are rigidly se,- cured to the recessed ends of thesection 'l by rivets 5 or similar fastening devices, while the oppositeends of the plates 4 are adjustably secured to the adjoining ends of thearmor section 2 by screws 6, said screws being adapted to be readilyremoved to permit the separationand removal of the armor sections. Bythus securing the adjoining ends of the armor sections together a smoothjoint is formed-0n the outer surface of the armor and only a very slightprojection on the inner surface thereof.

The outer endsv of the rivets 5 and screws 6 for attaching the splicingplates to the ends` of the armor sections have formed thereon enlargedheads which, together with a plurality of similarly headed rivets 7 formanti-slipping studs or projections on the outer surface of the armor asvshown. The studs 7 are preferably arranged in one or more annular rowsaround the armor, the

latter being shown in this instance and is preferably provided with acentral. and two outer rows, the studs of said'outer rows being arrangedopposite the spaces between the studs of the central row eitcept in thecase of the studs formed by the rivets 5 and screws 6 which are intransverse alinement.v

By thusarranging the studs the armor is caused to Jform a firm grip withthe surface of the road thereby preventing the slipping or skidding ofthe wheel.

The armor is applied and secured in position on the tire in the mannerdescribed before the tire is inflated so that when the A tire isinflat-ed the latter will be expanded into firm engagement with theinner surface' of the armor and depressed ends thereof and will'l thussecurely holdthe armor in position and against slipping around on thetire.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with theyaccompanying dawings, the construct-ion and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood with'- out requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form,'proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to Wli'iout departing 'from the principleor sacrificing any of the @adven- Vtages of the invenion as ciaimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A tiz'e uriner comprising :i pan' of detueiaizile se1ni-ciifeniai',i'ransvefsely Curved :iilnoif seeions, seid sections havingcorrespondingly shaped., inwardly depressed ends extending to the edgesof die sections, Conneeing pieles leent-edl wifnin the depressed ends ofsmid see'lions, one end of seid plates being' rigidly semi d so thedepressed ends of one section, seien/'s for detechebly seemh ing theopnosi ds of he piante to the depressed ends o *die other section, theinne;-

Lees/,ew

curved surface of the depressed. ends of the sections being adapted tobe drawn firmly in Contact with the tread of e pneumatic tire andembedded therein whereby the er mor is prevented from slipping upon thesame, and rows of anti-skidding studs arranged in said sections of thearmor und corresponding in shape "no ehe heads of the rivets' andscrews.

nestimony whereof have hereunto set my hund in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN ROBERT SMITH.

Vitnesses N. STEEVES, J, VJ. FETI'ER.

